Cisco Catalyst 4948E-F-S Back-to-Front Air-Cooled Switch Rear Panel (WS-C4948E-F-S)
This switch is Cisco Catalyst 4948E-F with IP Base image Software package.
The Cisco Catalyst® 4948E and 4948E-F Ethernet Switches are the Cisco Catalyst 4900 Series data center switches built from the start to deliver best-in-class, full-featured server-access switching. The switches include identical features except that the Cisco Catalyst 4948E offers front-to-back cooling, and the Cisco Catalyst 4948E-F offers back-to-front cooling. Each switch offers forty-eight 10/100/1000-Gbps RJ45 downlink ports and four 1 and 10 Gigabit Ethernet uplink ports. The switches are designed to simplify data center architecture and operations by offering service provider-grade hardware and software in a one-rack-unit (1RU) form factor optimized for full-featured top-of-rack (ToR) data center deployments.
The Cisco Catalyst 4948E and 4948E-F build on the advanced technology of the Cisco Catalyst 4948 Switches, the most widely deployed ToR switch in the industry, with more than 10 million ports deployed worldwide. The Cisco Catalyst 4948E and 4948E-F double the uplink bandwidth and offer true front-to-back and back-to-front airflow with no side or top venting. The airflow direction is controlled by the changing of fans. Optional front-to-back and back-to-front airflow management reduces data center operating costs by providing strict hot-aisle and cold-aisle isolation.
Hot-aisle and cold-aisle deployment remains the widely adopted best practice for data center cabinet layouts today. Networking switches and computing servers mounted in a single cabinet need to maintain the separation of the inlet cold air and the exhaust hot air for efficient use of cooling resources. The Cisco Catalyst 4948E and 4948E-F switches provide the option of front-to-back airflow (Cisco Catalyst 4948E) and back-to-front airflow (Cisco Catalyst 4948E-F) for ToR switch deployments.
Exceptional reliability and serviceability are delivered with optional internal AC and DC 1+1 hot-swappable power supplies and a hot-swappable fan tray with redundant fans.
The Cisco Catalyst 4948E and 4948E-F switches offer:
Scalability and Performance
ΓùÅ Nonblocking server-to-server traffic with 176-Gbps aggregate throughput
ΓùÅ Ease of migration from Gigabit Ethernet to 10 Gigabit Ethernet upstream with support for SFP and SFP+ optics
ΓùÅ Large buffers optimized to handle microbursts with 17.5 MB of centralized buffering, helping ensure that business-critical packets are not lost due to insufficient buffering
ΓùÅ Active queue management through dynamic buffer limiting for TCP throughput optimizations
ΓùÅ Investment protection through data center design with dual-stack IP Versions 4 and 6 (IPv4 and v6) support
ΓùÅ Advanced quality of service (QoS) with eight configurable queues for each port
ΓùÅ Data center server virtualization support for larger Layer 2 domains with scalable MAC addresses
ΓùÅ Support for a wide variety of optics connecting to the aggregation layer
ΓùÅ Front-to-back and back-to-front airflow options
Enhanced Manageability
ΓùÅ Pay as you grow with software feature packages, from Layer 2 only (LAN Base) to full Layer 3 capability (Enterprise Services)
ΓùÅ Reduced operating expenses (OpEx) with tools such as AutoInstall and Cisco IOS® Embedded Event Manager (EEM) that enable immediate availability
ΓùÅ Data center automation with IP service-level agreement (SLA) and Smart Call Home
ΓùÅ Data center optimization with true front-to-back and back-to-front airflow, including power supply cooling
ΓùÅ Enhanced application visibility with smart flow logging
ΓùÅ Enhanced manageability through eight bidirectional Switched Port Analyzer (SPAN) and Remote SPAN (RSPAN) sessions
ΓùÅ Network visibility through Cisco® NetFlow-Lite (future support)
Resiliency
ΓùÅ 1+1 AC or DC power supplies and hot-swappable fan tray with redundant fans for high availability for mission-critical applications
ΓùÅ Optimized forwarding across all four uplinks with equal-cost multipath (ECMP) load sharing
ΓùÅ Improved resiliency with protection from attacks with access control lists (ACLs), Control Plane Policing (CoPP), Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) inspection, and Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) snooping
ΓùÅ Active queue management using dynamic buffer limiting (DBL) for increased security and network control
Cisco IOS Software
Cisco IOS Software is a proven network OS that offers best-in-class availability, manageability, and scalability.
The Cisco Catalyst 4948E and 4948E-F support three levels of Cisco IOS Software. The basic level is LAN Base, developed for deployments that require data center-class hardware along with Layer 2 switching but not advanced features such as routing and Cisco IOS EEM. The next level of software is IP Base; this level supports static routes, Routing Information Protocol (RIP) Versions and 2, and Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol Stub (EIGRP-Stub) for limited routing. The top level of software is Enterprise Services; this level adds support for advanced routing protocols such as Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), Open Shortest Path First (OSPF), Intermediate System-to-Intermediate System (IS-IS) Protocol, and EIGRP. For a detailed list of supported software features, please refer to the software release notes at http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/switches/lan/catalyst4500/release/note/OL_23985.html.
Smart Top-of-Rack Design
Historically, data center design engineers have had to trade off access-layer features such as QoS, network visibility, and security when moving from an end-of-row (EoR) to a ToR data center design. The Cisco Catalyst 4948E and 4948E-F offer the same features found on large EoR data center switches in a 1RU form factor optimized for ToR deployments.
A few of the features specific to smart ToR switches are:
ΓùÅ Server-rack-optimized switches with the option of front-to-back or back-to-front airflow
ΓùÅ Nonblocking hardware-based switching and routing
ΓùÅ Full support for access- and distribution-level Layer 3 routing
ΓùÅ Advanced QoS including a modular QoS command-line interface (CLI)
ΓùÅ Advanced security
ΓùÅ Extended MAC address support for virtual environments
ΓùÅ Network visibility (future support)
Data centers focused on the following applications should deploy smart ToR switches:
ΓùÅ High-performance technical computing (grid)
ΓùÅ Enterprise and service provider cloud
ΓùÅ Virtual desktop environments
ΓùÅ Network and server virtualized data centers
ΓùÅ Web services
ΓùÅ Enterprise IT
Cisco IOS Embedded Event Manager
Cisco IOS EEM is a unique subsystem within Cisco IOS Software that allows customers to create and asynchronously run scripts directly on a router or switch. Scripts can be programmed using a simple CLI. Cisco IOS EEM responds to real-time events to automate tasks or to take automatic action based on condition detection. Customers can also use Cisco IOS EEM to create custom commands to reduce deployment and management complexity. Scripts can enable simple to complex automated actions, such as entering a log item or changing a port configuration in response to a security threat.
Visit the open Cisco IOS EEM scripting community, Cisco Beyond, for sample Cisco IOS EEM scripts.
Optimized for Multimedia Applications
The Cisco Catalyst 4948E and 4948E-F are optimized for multimedia applications, with advanced multicast support. The switches support Protocol-Independent Multicast (PIM), Source-Specific Multicast (SSM), and Bidirectional PIM (bidir-PIM), providing end users with additional scalability to support multimedia applications. Also supported are Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) snooping and Multicast Listener Discovery (MLD) snooping in hardware, enhancing performance and reducing network traffic by allowing a switch to dynamically add and remove hosts from a multicast group.
Intelligent Network Services with QoS and Sophisticated Traffic Management
The Cisco Catalyst 4948E and 4948E-F offer superior per-port QoS features to help ensure that network traffic is classified, prioritized, and scheduled optimally to efficiently manage bandwidth-intensive multimedia and time-sensitive and mission-critical applications. The Cisco Catalyst 4948E and 4948E-F can classify, monitor, and mark incoming packets, allowing the administrator to differentiate traffic flows and enforce policies. Sharing, shaping, and strict-priority configurations determine the scheduling of egress traffic. The Cisco Catalyst 4948E and 4948E-F also support DBL, a congestion-avoidance feature. For details about the QoS features, including active queue management through DBL on the Cisco Catalyst 4948E and 4948E-F, refer to the Cisco Catalyst 4500 Series Supervisor Engine QoS overview at http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/switches/ps5718/ps4324/prod_white_paper0900aecd8041691c.html.
Cisco Catalyst 4900 Series Features
Table 1 summarizes the main features of the Cisco Catalyst 4900 Series Switches.
Table 1. Main Features of Cisco Catalyst 4900 Series Switches
| Feature and Description | Cisco Catalyst 4948 Switch | Cisco Catalyst 4948 10 Gigabit Ethernet Switch | Cisco Catalyst 4900M Switch | Cisco Catalyst 4948E and 4948E-F Switches |
| Environmental |
| Height | 1RU | 1RU | 2RU | 1RU |
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 1.71 x 17.3 x 16.1 in. (4.3 x 43.9 x 40.9 cm) | 1.71 x 17.3 x 16.1 in. (4.3 x 43.9 x 40.9 cm) | 3.5 x 17.2 x 17.9 in. (8.9 x 43.7 x 45.5 cm) | 1.75 x 17.5 x 19.4 in. (4.4 x 44.4 x 49.3 cm) |
| Power redundancy | 1+1 AC or DC | 1+1 AC or DC | 1+1 AC or DC | 1+1 AC or DC |
| Unit weight | 16.5 lb (7.48 kg) | 16.5 lb (7.48 kg) | 34.0 lb (15.4 kg) | 19 lb (8.62 kg) |
| Hot-swappable fan | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Average and maximum power consumption (in watts [W]) | 176W average 300W maximum | 212W average 300W maximum | 300W average 446W maximum | 230W average 275W maximum |
| Airflow | Side to back | Side to back | Side to back | Front to back (Cisco Catalyst 4948E) Back to front (Cisco Catalyst 4948E-F) |
| Rack-mounting options | Front and rear mount | Front and rear mount High-performance rear mount | Four-post rack-side rail mount High-performance mount | Front and rear mount High-performance rear mount |
| Uplink optic types | Four Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP) optics | Two X2 (10 Gigabit Ethernet) optics | Eight X2 (10 Gigabit Ethernet) optics | SFP and SFP+ |
| Cisco® TwinGig Converter Module support | No | No | Yes (WS-X4908-10GE only) | No |
| Cisco OneX Converter Module support (X2 to SFP+) | No | No | Yes | No |
| Optics | LH, SX, ZX, and CWDM | LR, CX4, LX4, SR, ER, LRM, ZR, and DWDM | X2: LR, CX4, LX4, SR, ER, LRM, ZR, and DWDM SFP+: SR | CWDM, DWDM, SR, LR, LRM, and CX4 |
| Modular half-card slots | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Ports |
| Maximum 10/100/1000-Gbps ports | 48 | 48 | 40 | 48 |
| Maximum Gigabit Ethernet (fiber) ports | 4 | 0 | 32 (Cisco TwinGig Converter Module) | 4 |
| Maximum 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GBASE-T) ports | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| Maximum 10 Gigabit Ethernet (fiber) ports | 0 | 2 (X2) | 24 (X2)* | 4 (SFP+) |
| Performance and Scalability |
| Switching capacity | 96 Gbps | 136 Gbps | 320 Gbps | 176 Gbps |
| Throughput | 72 million packets per second (mpps) | 102 mpps | 250 mpps for IPv4 125 mpps for IPv6 | 131 mpps for IPv4 110 mpps for IPv6 |
| Routes supported | 32,000 | 32,000 | 256,000 | 57,000 |
| MAC addresses | 32,000 | 55,000 | 55,000 | 55,000 |
| Per-VLAN Spanning Tree (PVST) Protocol and VLAN IDs | 4094 | 4094 | 4094 | 4094 |
| Spanning Tree Protocol instances | 4094 | 4094 | 4094 | 4094 |
| Switched virtual interfaces (SVIs) | 2000 | 2000 | 4094 | 4094 |
| Active VLANs | 4094 | 4094 | 4094 | 4094 |
| Multicast routes | 28,000 | 28,000 | 28,000 | 28,000 |
| Security and quality-of-service (QoS) hardware entries | 32,000 | 32,000 | 128,000 | 32,000 |
| Switched Port Analyzer (SPAN) | 2 ingress and 4 egress | 2 ingress and 4 egress | 8 ingress and 8 egress | 8 ingress and 8 egress |
| Shared buffer | 16 MB | 16 MB | 17.5 MB | 17.5 MB |
| CPU | 266 MHz | 666 MHz | 1.3 GHz | 1 GHz |
| Synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM) | 256 MB | 256 MB | 512 MB | 1 GB |
| Multilayer switching | LAN Base, IP Base, and Enterprise Services options | LAN Base, IP Base, and Enterprise Services options | LAN Base, IP Base, and Enterprise Services options | LAN Base, IP Base, and Enterprise Services options |
| IPv6 support | Software switched | Software switched | Hardware switched | Hardware switched |
| USB port | No | No | Yes | No |
| Compact flash memory support | No | No | Yes | No |
| System reset button | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Minimum software requirements | Cisco IOS® Software Release 12.2(20)EWA or later | Cisco IOS Software Release 12.2(25)EWA or later | Cisco IOS Software Release 12.2(46)SG or later | Cisco IOS Software Release 12.2(54)SG or later (Cisco Catalyst 4948E) Cisco IOS Software Release 12.2(54)WO or later (Cisco Catalyst 4948E-F) |
For Cisco Catalyst 4948E and 4948E-F mounting options, please refer the installation guide at http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/switches/lan/catalyst4900/4948E/installation/guide/4948E.pdf
Industry Standards
Table 2 summarizes the supported industry standards on Cisco Catalyst 4948E and 4948E-F switches. For a detailed list of supported software features, please refer to the software release notes at http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/switches/lan/catalyst4500/release/note/OL_23985.html.
Table 2. Industry Standards
| Feature | Standard |
| Industry standards | ΓùÅ Ethernet: IEEE 802.3 and 10BASE-T ΓùÅ Fast Ethernet: IEEE 802.3u, 100BASE-TX, and 100BASE-FX ΓùÅ Gigabit Ethernet: IEEE 802.3z and 802.3ab ΓùÅ IEEE 802. 1D Spanning Tree Protocol ΓùÅ IEEE 802.1w rapid reconfiguration of spanning tree ΓùÅ IEEE 802. 1s multiple VLAN instances of spanning tree ΓùÅ IEEE 802.3 ad LACP ΓùÅ IEEE 802. 1p CoS prioritization ΓùÅ IEEE 802.1Q VLAN ΓùÅ IEEE 802. 1x user authentication ΓùÅ RMON I and II standards | |
Regulatory Standards Compliance
Table 2 provides regulatory compliance information for the Cisco Catalyst 4948E and 4948E-F.
Table 2. Regulatory Standards Compliance
| Standard | Compliance |
| Regulatory compliance | Products bear CE Marking, indicating compliance with the 89/336/EEC and 73/23/EEC directives, which include the safety and EMC standards listed here. |
| Safety | ΓùÅ UL 60950-1 ΓùÅ CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 60950-1 ΓùÅ EN 60950-1 ΓùÅ IEC 60950-1 ΓùÅ AS/NZS 60950 ΓùÅ IEC 60825-1 ΓùÅ IEC 60825-2 ΓùÅ EN 60825-1 ΓùÅ EN 60825-2 ΓùÅ 21 CFR 1040 |
| EMC | ΓùÅ FCC Part 15 (CFR 47) Class A ΓùÅ ICES-003 Class A ΓùÅ EN55022 Class A ΓùÅ CISPR22 Class A ΓùÅ AS/NZS 3548 Class A ΓùÅ VCCI Class A ΓùÅ EN55024 ΓùÅ ETS300 386 ΓùÅ EN50082-1 ΓùÅ EN61000-3-2 ΓùÅ EN61000-3-3 |
| Network Equipment Building Standards (NEBS) | ΓùÅ GR-63-Core NEBS Level 3 ΓùÅ GR-1089-Core NEBS Level 3 |
| ETSI | ΓùÅ ETS 300 019 Storage Class 1.1 ΓùÅ ETS 300 019 Transportation Class 2.3 ΓùÅ ETS 300 019 Stationary Use Class 3.1 |
Volume Discount 
